One of the surprises of the iPad is its use of a microSIM card card instead of the more common SIM. The SIM card is a special type of Smart Card, 15 x 25mm in size, that is used to hold both account info and sometimes contact info and messages in GSM handsets. The newer microSIM, aka 3FF SIM, is smaller at 12 x 15mm, about 52% smaller. Obviously it's not physically compatible with current phones as it is intended for even smaller units.
The iPad is not exactly tiny so it is quite difficult to understand why Apple chose the newer format since every new phone carriers offer it at this time and neither is there an aggressive push for conversion. So unless you are the type who knows how to format SIM cards and transfer data from one to another (i.e. standard SIM to microSIM), the move to the smaller format has almost the same effect as locking the 3G modem to AT&T only. Thankfully though T-Mobile has announced it will make the microSIM available in the US this year. At least it expands the available choices for carriers.
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